Sunday, July 20, 2008

Stage Fifteen: Embrun to Prato Nevoso

I wonder what the cutoff time was today? Sébastien Chavanel, riding for the Francaise de Jeux team, crossed the line at 42:59 after the stage winner, 12:07 after any other rider. Maybe the cutoffs are different for French riders.

Chavanel now has a significant gap of 4:33 behind Wim Vansevenant. If Vansevenant wants to score a record third Lanterne Rouge finish at the end of the Tour, he will have to keep an eye on Chavanel's position and be sure to finish well behind him on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I hadn't realized that it was Chavanel with the plastic bag wrapped up in his wheel, but as you suggest, there has to be more to the story. According to my cutoff calculator, though, the broom wagon wouldn't have swept him up until 51:27 after the winning time. For what it's worth.